Opinion
2:23-cv-00409-TLN-JDP
06-12-2023
RICHARD TUSO, individually on behalf of all others similarly situated, Plaintiffs, v. SUN RIDGE REAL ESTATE, INC., a California corporation, and AIDAN BURLESON, a California individual, Defendants.
ORDER GRANTING DEFENDANT'S NOTICE OF REQUEST TO SEAL EXHIBIT “A” TO ITS MOTION TO DISMISS
TROY L. NUNLEY, UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
Before the Court is Defendant Sun Ridge Real Estate, Inc.'s (“Sun Ridge”) a request to seal Exhibit “A” of its Motion to Dismiss. The Court grants the Motion.
This Court has recognized a category of documents that is not subject to the right of public access because the documents have “traditionally been kept secret for important policy reasons.” Times Mirror Co. v. United States, 873 F.2d 1210, 1219 (9th Cir. 1989). Federal “courts have refused to permit their files to serve ... as sources of business information that might harm a litigant's competitive standing.” Nixon v. Warner Commc'ns, 435 U.S. 589, 598 (1978). California federal courts thus routinely find compelling reasons to seal documents containing confidential business information. See generally HotSpot Therapeutics, Inc. v. Nurix Therapeutics, Inc., 2023 WL 3259471, at *2 (N.D. Cal. May 3, 2023) (collecting cases); Regis Metro Assoc. v. NBR Co., 2022 WL 267443, at *14 (N.D. Cal. Jan 28, 2022) (granting motion to seal because “[a]ll of the documents contain sensitive business information or may be subject to confidentiality agreements”); Nicolosi Distrib., Inc. v. Finishmaster, Inc., 2018 WL 10758114, at *2 (N.D. Cal. Aug. 28, 2018) (applying compelling reason standard and determining “compelling reasons exist to seal [contracts] because they contain proprietary and confidential business information, including potential trade secrets and business practices, such as product rates and purchase requirements.”)
Here, Sun Ridge moves to seal confidential and proprietary business information used at realtor training programs available only to those who pay a fee and agree not to share the materials. The Court agrees that these materials should be sealed under the well-established authority described above.
Accordingly, it is HEREBY ORDERED that:
1. Sun Ridge's request to file Exhibit A to its Motion to Dismiss under seal is granted. IT IS SO ORDERED.